Folder with a side hinge

Abstract

The folder has only one side substantially connected using a side hinge. Prior art style folder front and back panels (40 and 41) are hingedly attached along a horizontal bottom edge (47). The front and back panels each have a left-hand side edge (43 and 45). These LHS edges are substantially vertical and perpendicular to the panels' bottom edge. The proximal edges (53 and 55) of side hinge (50) are hingedly attached to respective LHS edges of the panels. The hinge portions' distal edges (56 and 54) are hingedly attached together (along vertical line 60). The hinge substantially connects the LHS front panel edge to the LHS back panel edge. The lower edge of the hinge (23) is at least 1.5″ up from the folder's bottom edge (47). The hinge is short (like ¾″). The hinge folds inside/between the folder panels (like 1″ in and 1″ out).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVEOLPEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to file folders or file envelopes or, more specifically, expandable file folders. Heretofore, folders up till now have been mostly of five basic types: standard single-fold folders, hanging folders, jackets, pockets, expanding pocket folders, and combinations thereof.

Prior Art FIG. 1 shows a prior art folder with a single bottom fold, front perspective view. Back panel P10, front panel P15, and fold lines P20 noted. Panels' bottom edge P7 noted. There are many problems with these standard file folders. Papers can fall out the sides. Papers can become disorganized (like upside down or out of order). This is because papers can be put in from either side or dropped in. If both front and back panels of a full folder are not grabbed together when pulling a file from a drawer, papers can fall into the drawer. (With full files, the short front side sinks down. (A user may miss grabbing the file front, so the file folder comes out, but not the papers that were in it.))

Hanging folders have problems and limited uses. They are only useful in a file drawer or special rack. Papers slip out the sides even more easily than standard file folders. This is because both front and back panel top edges are supported on the rack and panels do not lie against each other. (That is, the compression of the papers against each other, that is utilized to keep standard folders closed, is not in play.) Any papers that stick out the edges of a hanging file can get bent/torn (while pulling a folder out) by the metal edge supports of the file rack. This can be most displeasing to have important papers mangled by the supporting rack. The metal hanging strips, fixed to each panel top edge, are heavy an easily droop one side of the folder open if the folder is held. The metal hangers are aesthetically displeasing to be viewed (like for a presentation). Also, front and back portions of a hanging folder are nearly indistinguishable, but for an added top tag. One must often feel down to the bottom of the file drawer to be sure one has both front and back panels of the same folder.

Pockets (3 sides closed) have many disadvantages. Prior art, like that in U.S. Pat. No. 2,330,402 by M. Winokar, granted Sep. 28, 1943, entitled MULTIPLE FILING POCKET, has an example of a pocket (shown in his FIG. 3, flattened tubes 18). Such pockets have tight corners making it hard to put in and take out papers. It is hard to see what is on the papers without taking them out. Closed corners limit the quantity of papers. With more than a few papers, the width of the pocket needs to be much larger so papers can fit in farther away from the tight corners. (Winokar states (col. 1, lines 7-8) his pockets/flattened tubes 18 are for filing “a few papers . . . segregated from the main collection”. Larger pockets/envelopes are acceptable for mailings but not for folders. This is because folders are most needed to fit into limited width file drawers (like standard 12.5″ wide file drawers for letter 11″×8.5″ papers). Pocket folders also require the expense of a length of sealing on the two seams without the fold. Pockets made of standard-folder card stock make inserting papers into the tight corners even more difficult than a thin-paper shipping envelope.

With pockets, papers (which are flimsy) must be agilely guided straight down between the pocket sides. Papers may catch on the corners, like if they are tilted. To insert papers, one often curve-stiffens papers (with one's thumb press-curving the papers against ones fingertips). The pocket is often held open with the opposing hand, and the leading edge of the papers is guided between the pocket sides. This procedure can be time consuming and frustrating, especially, as is usual, many papers must be filed.

Jackets (2 sides closed) have the tight corner problem also. The fuller the jacket the farther sideways papers extend, making jackets not so useful in the sideways-limited space of a file drawer. Vikings® Office Products Discount Buyers Guide, Spring 1999, P. 84, item A shows a jacket with tabs for indica on the side (not a design for file drawers).

Expansion pockets have other disadvantages. Guiding papers in to these pleated expandable folders requires nearly the same agile guiding-them-in that pockets require. It can be easier to guide papers in expandable folders than pockets because the size of the opening is essentially larger (because it is front-to-back deeper). The expansion pocket will fit into a file drawer. But they are bulky (deep) even when empty. They need to be fully expanded to insert papers. Also they require multiple steps of construction, which increases production costs. Winokar's Multiple Filing Pocket FIG. 1, bellows elements 14 shows an example of “customary corrugated” (col. 2, line 5) pleated sides on an expandable pocket folder. Prior art, like that in U.S. Pat. No. 1,891,558 by F. E. Rupf, granted Dec. 20, 1932, entitled FILE FOLDER, has another example of short pleated sides. Rupf's (P. 1, lines 80-82) “side walls 6 and 8 . . . terminate substantially midway between upper and lower longitudinal edges as shown” (lines 84-85) “to afford finger space”. Guiding papers in half-tall pleated sides can be even harder than if the pleating were about as tall as the folder. This is because the short pocket sides may mean one has to look deep into the pocket to guide the papers in between the sides, often putting one's hand into the pocket to keep the paper's edge and the pocket's edge from stopping insertion. This is a likely reason expansion pocket sides are most often as tall as the front and back panels/walls. Rupf deals with the short wall problem by (lines 85-88) “While it might be desirable to construct both walls so that each may be hinged or flexed; it is desirable to provide but one wall with such quality.”0 One hinged wall, (hinge 26) provides improved viewing and access to papers in his folder. Disadvantages of hinge 26 is flap portion 18, once bent, would tend to remain limply bent, leaving a folder to not lay nicely flat when placed flat on a table, etc. Still, any paper inside the folder can only be partially viewed.

Multi-pocket pleat-sided folders, (like Rupf's and Winokar's (and those with tall pleated sides) have other disadvantages. They are bulky. Pleats are also pre-formed on the bottom of each folder pocket. The whole multi-pocket unit generally must be expanded in full to place papers in any pocket. Since it is already difficult to get papers in a pocket, the bulky multi-pocket unit may have to be pulled from the file drawer and placed somewhere, like on a desk. As each pocket may be filled at different times, (like filed by month) the unit may have to sit on a desk forever to be useful. Full or not fully expanded pockets have one more glitch. A person often expands each pocket from the top, creating a more V-shaped pocket than a U-shaped one. Papers are often shoved in—all the way to the bottom—so they don't stick out the top. But because of the pocket's bottom W shape, papers can end up being crumpled (or papers already inside get smashed).

RE: Hinged attachment. P.A. FIG. 1 shows essentially front and back panels hingedly attached. Though both front and back panels can be made from one blank, or one sheet of material, their bottom edge fold provides the utility of a hinge. Fold lines P20 can provide similar and/or additional hinged utility. Sheet material weakened, indented, and/or scored along a straight line, when purposely stressed, can provide hinged attachment between sheet portions on opposite sides of such a line. Similarly, multiple sheet materials stapled together (like pages of a document) become hingedly attached, effectively along the vertical length of the staple, such that the papers weaken/fold under stress against the more rigid staple.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a prior art single-fold folder plus a one-side-only side hinge (FIG. 2). To produce/attach a hinge the folder's front and back panels (made from flat stock) each can have a same-side side tab-like portion (FIG. 3). The tab-like portion's peripheral edges are taped, glued, or inside-stapled together, then bent in forming the side hinge for the folder. The side hinge can also instead be a separate piece of flat stock and attached to a prior art folder with staples (FIGS. 13a to 15). The side hinge can be 3″ up from the bottom of the folder, ¾″ tall, and pleated/folded 1″ in and 1″ out.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

With only one side hinge hingedly attached to a bottom-fold folder: #1: Papers slide in one way, so less likely any will be upside down. #2: Papers line up evenly/same length in folder. #3: Papers are easy viewed while in fairly open folder/all data visible. #4: Since papers can be viewed while in folder, papers stay in order. #5: An embodiment of this folder expands 2″ wide. #6: They are inexpensive to make and easy to produce. #7: These folders can be placed in a backward-tilted tray (FIG. 4), making sorting papers super-extra-easy. #8: On a backward-tilted tray, papers don't slip out either side and stay aligned. #9: These folders, when full, pull from file drawers with contents intact (even grabbing just one panel). #10: These folders fit anywhere standard file folders fit. #11: The tab-type folder's side hinge can be clipped off if ever necessary. #12: The tab-type side hinge can be hinged outward and be viewed as a side tab (in an opened-back tray), like if folders have few papers in them. #13: Face the side hinge down, and papers can be looked at as if one were reading a book (without the papers falling out) (folder positioned like in FIG. 9). #14: Unused folders fit in-bulk in a drawer ) even the tab-type hinge out fits because the hinge can just bend slightly rearwardly in drawer. #15: Folder is aesthetically pleasing. #16: The low position of the hinge on the folder keeps even envelopes from slipping out the folder's hinge side.

There are advantages to the approximate position and dimensions of a side hinge, like that shown in FIG. 2. A side hinge being about ⅔ from the top of a folder helps provide paper viewability and book-like support (advantages #3, advantage #13), and advantage #16. The width of the side hinge (edge 55 to edge 53) being substantially 1″ in and 1″ out helps provide file openness plus restraint and support (advantages #3, #4, #5, #13, and somewhat # 12 & #14). The height of the hinge being short, like ¾″, helps provide advantages like #6 (i.e. less tape or only one staple to attach edges of side hinge), advantage #11, and #14. (The height of the hinge being too short, like ¼″, even if of stronger material, would be less successful: putting too much stress between folder and hinge, reducing durability, may have a tendency to poke out the side of the folder, and may help hinge skew). Cutting the entire folder from a single blank keeps costs low and gives a clean folder appearance (advantages #6 and #15). Having a hinge on only one folder side provides advantages #1-4, #7-8, #13, & ≈ # 9 over one-fold folders. Having the lower edge of a hinge at least 1.5″ above the folder bottom helps stop the tight corner problem of jackets & envelopes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (FOLDS DRAWN AS LONG DASH LINES)

FIG. 1 is a Prior Art folder with a single bottom fold, front perspective view

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the invention, LHS front perspective view

FIG. 3a is an embodiment prior to attachment means, front view

FIG. 3b is a detail of FIG. 3a

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a folder near a backward-tilted tray (tray side view)

FIG. 5 is the embodiment of FIG. 2 with hinge facing outward, front view

FIG. 6a is a detail of FIG. 5

FIG. 6b is a detail of FIG. 5, showing an adhesive-taped hinge

FIG. 6c is a detail of FIG. 5, showing an adhesive-taped hinge

FIG. 7 is the embodiment of FIG. 2 with hinge facing inward, front view

FIG. 8a is a detail of FIG. 7

FIG. 8b is a detail of FIG. 7 with an inside-taped hinge

FIG. 8c is a detail of FIG. 7, with a stapled hinge

FIG. 9 is the embodiment of FIG. 2, inside top perspective view

FIG. 10 is the embodiment of FIG. 9, viewed as if held open

FIG. 11 is an embodiment with an attachable hinge piece, front view

FIG. 12 is an embodiment with a tall hinge, front view

FIG. 13a is an embodiment with a stapled-on hinge, front perspective view

FIG. 13b is a detail of FIG. 13a, same view

FIG. 14a is the embodiment of FIG. 13a, top view

FIG. 14b is a detail, of FIG. 14a

FIG. 15 is a detail of the embodiment in FIG. 13a, front view

FIG. 16a is a folder's V bottom edge detail with papers inside, side view

FIG. 16b is a folder's W bottom edge detail with papers inside, side view

FIG. 17 is an embodiment with a W bottom edge

FIG. 18 is an embodiment with multiple pockets

FIG. 19 is the embodiment of FIG. 3 laid flat as one blank

FIG. 20 is the layout of two alternative folders cut at once

FIG. 21 is an embodiment where side edges are not substantially vertical

FIG. 22 is an embodiment with panel bottom edges shorter than side edges

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTATIONS

P7  a prior art bottom edge
P10 a prior art back panel
P15 a prior art front panel
P20 prior art fold lines
21  a back alternative cut line
22  a front alternative cut line
23  a portion lower edge
30  a folder with side hinge
31  a front panel fold line
32  a back panel fold line
33  a front panel fold line
40  a front panel
41  a back panel
42  a front panel RHS edge
43  a front panel LHS side edge
44  a back panel RHS edge
45  a back panel LHS edge
46  a front panel top edge
47  a front & back panel bottom edge
48  a back panel top edge
50  a side hinge
51  a hinge front portion
52  a hinge back portion
53  51's proximal edge
54  51's distal edge
55  52's proximal edge
56  52's distal edge
60  a vertical fine
61  a vertical line
62  a backward tilted tray
63  a staple
64  an upper edge
66  a hinge front portion
67  a hinge back portion
68  a front panel
69  a back panel
P70 prior art tab
P71 prior art cut-out
72  a tall hinge (2″)
73  a tape segment
74  a tape segment
80  adhesive tape (1″)
81  adhesive tape (2″)
82  adhesive tape (3″)
83  adhesive tape
84  both hinge portions
85  a staple
86  a staple
93  a prior art folder
94  a fold line
95  attachment location

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Description of One Embodiment of the Invention

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention or folder 30, LHS front perspective view. This folder has a front panel 40, and a back panel 41. Each panel has opposite-side top and bottom edges. The front panel has top edge 46. The back panel has top edge 48. Front and back panel bottom edges are substantially horizontal and are hingedly attached along bottom edge 47. The front panel has right-hand-side edge 42 and left-hand side edge 43. The back panel has right-hand-side edge 44 and left-hand side edge 45. Side edges 43 and 45 are substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge 47, and they are substantially vertical. In this embodiment, side edges 42 and 44 are also substantially perpendicular to said top and said bottom edges. [Multiple prior art bottom edge fold lines are shown in this embodiment. Shown are front panel slightly-folded fold line 31, front panel fold line/scoring 33, and back panel slightly-folded fold line 32.] Side hinge 5O has a front portion 51 and a back portion 52. Each portion has a vertical proximal edge and a vertical distal edge (portion 51's proximal edge 53, and distal edge 54; portion 52's proximal edge 55, and distal edge 56). Each proximal edge is hingedly attached to a respective left-hand-side edge of said panels. That is, front portion's proximal edge is hingedly attached to the left-hand-side edge of the front panel, and back portion's proximal edge is hingedly attached to the left-hand side edge of the back panel. In this embodiment, portion edge 53 is hingedly attached to panel edge 43 and portion edge 55 is hingedly attached to panel edge 45. The hinge's distal edges 56 & 54 are hingedly attached together (along vertical line 60). The hinge substantially connects LHS front panel edge 43 to LHS back panel edge 45. The folder has only one side with a side hinge. That is, only one side of both panels are substantially connected. Front hinge portion's upper edge is noted as 64. Lower edge 23 (of hinge 50) is substantially 3″ above bottom panel edge(s) 47. The bottom edge of a side hinge is preferably at least 1.5″ above a folder's bottom panel edge. Extending the hinge's bottom edge closer to the bottom of a folder can cause papers inserted to be pinched in the bottom LHS corner, making it hard to fully insert papers (a disadvantage of prior art pleats).

The vertical distance between front hinge portion's upper edge 84 and lower edge 23 can be substantially ¾″. The vertical distance between back hinge portion's upper edge and lower edge can be substantially the same as the vertical distance between front hinge portion's upper edge and lower edge.

FIG. 3a is the front view of an embodiment of the folder of FIG. 2 prior to an attachment means, with hinge portions facing outward. Front panel 40 and back panel 41 are noted. Portion 51 and portion 52 are noted. FIG. 3b is a detail of FIG. 3a. Noted are portion 51 and its proximal edge 53, and distal edge 54. Noted are portion 52 and its proximal edge 55, and distal edge 56. Distal edges 56 and 54 are not yet attached.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the same folder embodiment 30 near a backward-tilted tray 62 (tray side view), with side hinge 50 noted (hinge is folded in). The folder is for confining papers.

FIG. 5 is the embodiment of FIG. 2 with hinge facing outward, front view. FIG. 6a is a detail of FIG. 5. Distal edges 56 and 54 are hingedly attached by an attachment means. Hinge front portion 51 and hinge back portion 52 are noted. The hinge portion's distance between proximal edge 53 and distal edge 54 may be the same distance as the distance between proximal edge 55 and distal edge 56. These distances can be substantially 1″ (each portion). These distances can be at least ½″ each. With more rigid folder panels and heavyweight papers, distances may also be wider. FIG. 6b is a detail of FIG. 5, showing adhesive tape 80 as an attachment means. In this embodiment, tape 80 is vertically substantially the height of edges 56 & 54 (which are ¾″ tall in this embodiment. Tape 80 is substantially 1″ wide, covering substantially ½″ of front hinge portion and ½″ of back hinge portion (½ of the tape over each portion). FIG. 6c is a detail of FIG. 5, showing adhesive tape 81 as an attachment means. Tape 81 is substantially 2″ wide, covering substantially 1″ of front hinge portion and 1″ of the back hinge portion (½ of the tape over each portion).

The narrower the hinge (horizontal distance between the hinge portions' edges), the more stress is placed on the hinge when opening the folder. The wider the hinge, the more confined a folder must be in a backwards tilted tray to keep front panel next to back panel.

FIG. 7 is the embodiment of FIG. 2 with hinge facing inward, front view. FIG. 8a is a detail of FIG. 7. Hinge front portion 51 and hinge back portion 52 are noted. FIG. 8b is a detail of FIG. 7 with an inside-taped hinge as an attachment means. Tape 83 noted. FIG. 8c is a detail of FIG. 7, with a staple as an attachment means, vertical staple 63 hingedly attaches substantially both front and back portions' proximal edges together. That is, the staple is physically positioned slightly distally (in example, like 1/16″) from each portion's physical edge. Each portion's distal edge is considered to be at the location of the staple, or at vertical (projected) line 61. Staple 63 is actually not as vertically tall as the height of the portions, however the staple substantially vertically attaches the portions' distal edges. An advantage of an inside staple is the hinge is pre-formed to stay positioned inside a folder.

The folder embodiments described above (FIGS. 2-8c) are substantially formed from one continuous blank plus attachment means.

FIG. 9 is the embodiment of FIG. 2, inside top perspective view, noting hinge 50. FIG. 10 is the embodiment of FIG. 2 like the view of FIG. 9, but viewed as if held open (hinge 50 noted).

2. Description of other Embodiments of the Invention

FIG. 11 is a prior art folder 93, front view, with an attachable hinge piece (a combined front-and-back hinge portions 84) and adhesive taping 82. For a completed embodiment, the hinge portions are hingedly attached to folder by tape 82 fixedly attached to LHS portions of both front and back panels. Tape 82 positions hinge piece 84 substantially 3″ up from front and back panel bottom edge(s). 73 tape segment is to be fixed to folder front panel (substantially in location 95). 74 tape segment is fixed substantially to folder's back panel. Hinge portions can be made of sheet material similar or dissimilar to folder 93. Fold line 94 is vertical and is horizontally centered between hinge portions. A hinge piece embodiment can be, but is not limited to being, substantially: ¾″ vertically tall, 2″ horizontally wide (making front portion 1″ and back portion 1″) or 1.5″ horizontally wide or 1″ horizontally wide.

FIG. 12 is an embodiment with tall hinge 72, front view. As the width the folder opens is limited (on side-hinge side) to the hinge's upper-most edge, a tall hinge adds unknown advantage. The lower edge of the side hinge is at least 1.5″ above the bottom edge of the folder panels.

FIG. 13a is an embodiment with a stapled-on hinge, front perspective view. FIG. 13a is substantially FIG. 2, with a stapled-on hinge. The embodiment is made similar to the embodiment in FIG. 11. That is, a separate blank of sheet material is used for the hinge (like FIG. 11's hinge piece 84)(same hinge dimensions o.k.). FIG. 13b is a detail of FIG. 13a. The hinge piece is stapled to front panel's LI-HS edge by staple 85 and to back panel's LHS edge by staple 86 (underside of staple shown). This hinge piece can be easily attached to any prior art folder (like the folder in FIG. 1). A clipper-style (length-gripping) staple may be preferred. A hinge piece may also be glued on (not shown).

FIG. 15 is a detail of the embodiment in FIG. 13a, but front view. Front staple 85 and back staple 86 are noted.

FIG. 14a is the embodiment of FIG. 13a, top view. Back panel 69 and front panel 68 are noted. FIG. 14b is a detail, of FIG. 14a. Hinge front portion 66 and back portion 67 are noted. Staple 86 hingedly attaches back panel 69's LHS edge to the proximal edge of back portion 67. Front staple 85 hingedly attaches front panel 68's LHS edge to the proximal edge of front portion 68. That is, back hinge portion's proximal edge is substantially hingedly attached to back panel LHS edge by rear attachment means staple 86. Front hinge portion's proximal edge is substantially hingedly attached to the front panel's LHS edge by frontal attachment means staple 85.

A folder's depth (front panel to back panel) is limited when a folder's sides are confined by my side hinge or prior art pleats. Expansion of the bottom of a folder can have issues. FIG. 16a is a folder's V bottom edge detail with papers inside, side view. With substantially a single bottom fold, papers fit nicely—substantially the same in a folder. Compare this to FIG. 16b. FIG. 16b is a folder's W bottom edge detail with papers inside, side view. Each V section of the W is less than half the width of the V in FIG. 16a (the thickness of the cardboard and it's pleating takes up room as well). A W bottom can pinch-catch papers, making them hard to insert. The first partial paper edge to stick in a W point stops the paper from moving, often requiring a paper to be pulled back up and re-inserted.

With prior art pleated pocket folders, the bottom W can't naturally spread open much because of the restrictive sides. If such a pocket is not fully expanded, top to bottom, even the side pleats can pinch-grab papers as they are inserted.

FIG. 17 is an embodiment with fold lines folded forming a prior art accordion-pleated style W around the panel bottom edge. FIG. 18 is an embodiment with multiple pockets, each pocket with only one side hinge.

FIG. 19 is the embodiment of FIG. 3a laid flat as one blank. Panel 41 and panel 40 noted. Tab-like hinge portions 52 and 51 noted. Any one of many of drawn fold lines (the long-dash lines) may be utilized as panel bottom edge (47 in FIG. 2). Multiple fold lines on any embodiment may be utilized. In an alternative embodiment, a folder may be cut at invisible (curved) lines 21 and 22. The advantage would be reduced blank size, as is shown in FIG. 20 (showing the layout of two alternative folders cut at once).

The embodiment in FIG. 2 shows side edges being substantially vertical. Top and bottom edges are wider than side edges are tall. FIG. 21 is an embodiment where RHS edges are not substantially vertical. FIG. 22 is an embodiment where panel bottom edges have less length than side edges.

3. Common Specifications of the Invention

Common specifications are also described in the embodiments discussed. Prior art folder panels, and embodiment panels, are of a size and shape, when hingedly attached, to contain papers. Height/width dimensions of folder panels can be, but are not limited to being ≈9″×12″ (8 ¾″ one panel, often minus tab cut-out, 9″ other panel, often plus ½″ tab) for 8.5″×11″ letter papers. Width of legal folders is ≈14⅝″ for legal 8.5″×14″ papers, other dimensions being similar to letter. Dimensions may be of a prior art size and shape to contain A4, B5, A5, Executive, half letter, index cards, envelopes, photographs, Panoramic, and other size papers and sheet materials. All dimensions have been listed in inches, but all approximate to centimeters (1 cm. ≈.3937 inches). Conversion to centimeters is not new matter. Hinge can be, but is not limited to being substantially 3″ up, 3.5″ up, 2.5″ up, or 2″ up from file folder fold. Hinge can be, but is not limited to being substantially ¾″ tall, 1″ tall, or ½″ tall. Hinge portion horizontal widths can be, but are not limited to each being substantially ½″,¾″ or 1″. In example with a stapled hinge, tabs to make the hinge portions may each be 1 ⅛″ wide, where the staple is ⅛″ from the hinge portion's distal edges and 1″ from the hinge portion's proximal edges. Prior art scoring lines at/near the bottom edge of the folder can be, but is not limited to being, centered between folder front & back panels, so side hinge does not skew when folder expands.

Prior art tabs (extensions of and above a folder panel top edge) and cut-outs may be part of an embodiment. In Drawings, front and back panels are drawn similarly, but one could have a top tab and one could have a top cut-out (like in FIG. 2, prior art tab P70 and prior art cut-out P71). That is, a tab and/or cut-out could be absent and/or on an opposite panel. Panels are named front and back for clarity (as compared to calling them panel 1 and panel 2). The hinge is chosen to be a left-hand-side hinge, just picking one hand side. That is, any claim where all mentions of a LHS hinge were replaced with a RHS hinge, the claim would describe the same embodiment.

The side hinge can be, but is not limited to being, equal-portion extensions from both front and back folder segments. The hinge can be an attached piece, like that shown in FIGS. 11 or 15. The bottom edge of folder panels can be a smaller dimension than folder side edges, like in FIG. 20. Other possible embodiments include, but are not limited to, the configurations shown.

5. Materials

Materials that may be used to form panels and side hinge include, but are not limited to, those known in the art, including semi-rigid to flexible sheet materials like paper card stock, plastic sheeting, fiberboard, or corrugated cardboard. Folder stock can be, but is not limited to being, 9.5 to 25 pressboard stock, 14 gauge polyethylene. An attachment means, including a frontal and rear attachment means, may also be glue. The area of glued surface is small (like ¾″× 1/16″). Therefore it would be of advantage if such glue penetrated through the entire thickness of sheet material of both the folder and hinge parts, substantially attaching parts like a staple, versus surface attachment. If a folder were made of plastic, a prior art type heat seal may be an attachment means. So, attachment means can be, but are not limited to being, adhesive taping (such as strapping tape, cloth cold adhesive or heat-on tape, or Tyvek® tape), a staple, staples, glue, or heat seal.

12. Operation of the Invention and Unobviousness

My side-hinge folder may be most unobvious because the hinge does not always function as a perfect hinge or a prior art pleated side. Unlike a rigid hinge, when spreading the folder open, stress can be on the upper—most portion of the hinge. In use my hinge functions differently than prior art's customary pleats on both folder sides. That is, to put-in/take-out papers the prior art folder's pleated sides are needed to open equally top-to-bottom, like a pleated window blind. When my folders sit in a file drawer they behave as such. But most people tend to open only the top portion of a folder to insert papers, making a folder V shaped. Prior art pleats are tall, not-so-wide, and extend to the bottom of the pocket. So, opening a pleated-sides folder only at the top (V shape) pinches papers inside at the bottom, sometimes the sides near the bottom, stopping papers from getting all the way in. Prior art misses this problem. Because my main embodiments have a short hinge that is a distance from the folder's bottom edge, and generally avoids a W bottom, no pinching occurs. Unlike prior art, my single-side hinge has advantages by opening more V-shaped. That is, my folder opens V-shaped at and above the hinge and leaves a loose pocket bottom below it. My hinge, opening like a V above the hinge, lets a person view papers inside the folder and hold the folder up and review papers like a book (advantages #3, #4, & #13). My side hinge takes advantage of the natural V action of the panels' bottom hinge, like a standard one-fold folder.

With my taped hinge embodiments, versus my stapled hinge embodiments, the hinge may bulge laterally/outward from the folder panels, like in a not-so-full file. This bulging occurs more easily because the hinge is short and a distance from the folder's bottom edge. Unlike with prior art pleats, the pinching action of the bottom part of the pleated sides is not there to keep the hinge inside the folder (remember the V & W). Such a taped hinge may require but a touch to push the hinge in before inserting folder into a file drawer. Of course, my stapled hinges do not pop outside of the folder.

If folds, on/near the folder's bottom, are not bent equally between folder front and back my hinge may slightly skew. Perhaps those skilled in this art assumed this uneven stress was unworkable on a flat one-fold style folder. However, such stresses do not reduce the hinge's effectiveness and have negligible durability issues. Perhaps those in the art thought the folders bottom edge would need to be pleated, making them hard to stack as single folders.

Prior art folders (those more complex than the standard one-fold folder) are often over-engineered: most are complex to be sure papers stay inside a folder. Prior art misses that folders are most needed to have easy access to put in/take out papers (and secondly be multi-purpose). That is, it may be an unrecognized unsolved need that folders are most needed for sorting and reviewing (not just storing). My folder produces utilities unmatched in any other prior art folder, alone or in combination. As my folders are very multi-purpose and inexpensive to make, the fact that no one has implemented something even similar is evidence of unobviousness.

13. Conclusion

My folders have so many advantages: Papers slide in one way, so less likely any will be upside down. Papers line up evenly/same length in folder. Papers are easy viewed while in fairly-open folder/all data visible. Since papers can be viewed while in folder, papers stay in order. My folder expands up to 2″ wide. They are inexpensive to make and easy to produce. My folders can be placed in a backward-tilted tray making sorting papers super-extra-easy. On a backward-tilted tray, papers don't slip out either side. My folders, when full, pull from file drawers with contents intact (even if only one panel is grabbed). My folders fit anywhere standard file folders fit. The expanding side hinge can be clipped off if ever necessary. The side hinge can be hinged outward and be viewed as a side tab, especially if folders have few papers in them. Face the side hinge down, and papers can be looked at as if one were reading a book (without the papers falling out). My folders are aesthetically pleasing. The low position of the hinge on my folder keeps even envelopes from slipping out the folder's hinge side.

My folder is constructed to simply and effectively improve the order, direction, and straightness of papers in a folder. Papers actually go in easier, stay more organized, are easier to sort, and are easier to review than even the standard one-fold folders. My folder leaves all papers viewable and displayed with little opportunity for them to fall out. My folder shows: less is more, or having only one side expansion hinge (on a 2-sided folder) produces a better, unexpected result than more confining 3-sided expansion folders.

Claims

1. A folder wherein: said folder having a front panel, said folder having a back panel, each said panel having an opposite-side top and bottom edge, each said panel having opposite-side right-hand side and left-hand side edges, said left hand side edges being substantially perpendicular to said bottom edges, said bottom edges being substantially horizontal, said left hand side edges being substantially vertical, said panels hingedly attached at said bottom edges; a side hinge, said side hinge having a front portion, said side hinge having a back portion, each said portion having a vertical proximal edge, each said portion having a vertical distal edge, each said proximal edge being hingedly attached to a respective left hand side edge of said panels, said distal edges being hingedly attached; said side hinge substantially connecting said left hand side front panel edge to said left hand side back panel edge; only one hand side of both said panels substantially connected, said side hinge having a lower edge, said lower edge being at least 1.5″ above said panels' bottom edge.

2. The folder of claim 1 wherein: said distal edges being hingedly attached by an attachment means.

3. The folder of claim 2 wherein: said means being adhesive taping or a staple.

4. The folder of claim 1 wherein: the distance between each said vertical proximal edge and said distal edge being at least ½″.

5. The folder of claim 1 wherein: said back portion proximal edge being substantially hingedly attached to said back panel left-hand side edge by a rear attachment means, and said front portion proximal edge being substantially hingedly attached to said front panel left-hand side edge by a frontal attachment means.

6. The folder of claim 5 wherein: said rear attachment means being a staple and said frontal attachment means being a staple.

7. The folder of claim 5 wherein: said rear attachment means and said frontal attachment means each being adhesive taping.

8. The folder of claim 1 wherein: the horizontal distance between each said portion's said proximal edge and said distal edge being at least ½″.

9. The folder of claim 1 wherein each said portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, and the distance between said portion's upper and said lower edge being at least ½″.

10. The folder of claim 9 wherein said distance between said portion's upper and said lower edge being less than 3″.

11. A folder wherein: said folder having a front panel, said folder having a back panel, each said panel having an opposite-side top and bottom edge, each said panel having opposite-side right-hand side and left-hand side edges, said left hand side edges being substantially perpendicular to said bottom edges, said bottom edges being substantially horizontal, said left hand side edges being substantially vertical, said panels hingedly attached at said bottom edges; a side hinge, said side hinge having a front portion, said side hinge having a back portion, each said portion having a vertical proximal edge, each said portion having a vertical distal edge, each said proximal edge being hingedly attached to a respective left hand side edge of said panels, said distal edges being hingedly attached; said side hinge substantially connecting said left hand side front panel edge to said left hand side back panel edge; only one hand side of both said panels substantially connected, and the distance between each said vertical proximal edge and said distal edge being at least ½″.

12. The folder of claim 11 wherein: said side hinge having a lower edge, said lower edge being at least 1.5″ above said panels' bottom edge.

13. The folder of claim 11 wherein: said distal edges being hingedly attached by an attachment means.

14. The folder of claim 13 wherein: said means being adhesive taping or a staple.

15. The folder of claim 1 wherein: said back portion proximal edge being substantially hingedly attached to said back panel left-hand side edge by a rear attachment means, and said front portion proximal edge being substantially hingedly attached to said front panel left-hand side edge by a frontal attachment means.

16. The folder of claim 15 wherein: said rear attachment means being a staple and said frontal attachment means being a staple.

17. The folder of claim 15 wherein: said rear attachment means and said frontal attachment means each being adhesive taping.

18. The folder of claim 11 wherein each said portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, and the distance between said portion's upper and said lower edge being at least ½″.

19. The folder of claim 9 wherein said distance between said portion's upper and said lower edge being less than 3″.